Suction cleaner



June 1, 1943. l R. s. BOYLE 2,320,507

SUCTION CLEANER Filed July 8, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1'1? illll 3/ INVENTOR flaberl 8. Bqyle m/y'njkaw ATTORN EY June 1, 1943. R. s. BOYLE SUCTION CLEANER Filed July 8, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Roberl S. Boyle c5: ADQaMS X ATTORNEY Patentcd June 1, 1943 UNiTE suc'rion CLEANER Robert S. Boyle, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 8, 1939, Serial No. 283,341

(Cl. lB- ii) 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and more particularly to new and novel suction cleaner rotary agitators. More specifically the invention comprises a. rotary agitator for a suction cleaner in which the. rigid beater element is radially movable and adjustable, and in a preferred embodiment, is automatically adjustable. 7

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner. It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner rotary agitator. A still further object of the invention is to provide a suction cleaner rotary agitator embodying a radially adjustable rigid beater element. A still further object of the invention is to provide a rotary agitator in which the rigid beating means are radially adjustable automatically to adapt the cleaner for use upon dlfi'erent types of supporting surfaces. A still further object of the invention is to provide a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner in which the rigid beating element has one radial extension at one speed of rotation and a different radial extension at a second speed of rotation. A still further object of the invention is to provide a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner in which the rigidbeating element has an inner and outer radial extension between which it moves automatically, its radial extension in operation depending upon the speed of agitator rotation. These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering inconnection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are disclosed:

Figure 1 illustrates a front view of the suction cleaner embodying the present invention with a section shown through the nozzle to disclose the rotary agitator embodied therein;

Figure 2 is a side view of the helically extend ing rigid beater element and its seat removed from the agitator body;

Figure 3 is a view taken along the helix of the beater element, with certain parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 4 is a transverse section through the cleaner agitator upon the line l| of Figure 3 and illustrates the beater element in its outer radial position;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but with the beater element in its inner radial position;

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuit of the two speed cleaner motor;

Figure '7 is a diagrammatic showing of the relationship of the innerand outer orbits of the beater elements relative to the nozzle lips;

Figure 8 is a view taken along the helix of an adjustable rigid beater element constructed in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention and in which the adjustment is secured manually, the beater element being shown in its inner radial position relative to its seat;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 but with the beater element in its outer radial position;

Figure 10 is a cross section through an agitator constructed in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention and clearly illustrates the manual adjustment for the rigid beater element, the beater element being adjusted to its outer radial position;

7 Figure 11 is a view in perspective of the beater element and its seat of the second embodiment of the invention. 7

Rotary agitators in suction cleaners form a necessary part thereof foreficient cleaning. In their earliest form they comprised flexible brush elements only. In their more modern form rigid heating elements are combined with flexible brush elements. The rigid heating elements COR-e tact and positively vibrate a surface covering undergoing cleaning which is lifted from the sup porting surface by the suction of the cleaner and dislodges therefrom the embedded foreign material. Such rigid heater elements, however, are not adapted for contact with a rigid, hard supporting surface such as a bare floor. The modern suction cleaner, however, should be ableto sweep bare floors as well as clean surface coverings. Additionally the operator may wish only to sweep the surface covering and not vibrate it positively as by contact with the rigid beating element. In the suction cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention, the rotary agitator is so designed that it can sweep surface coverings without positively vibrating them, and also can sweep bare floors, the rigid beater element being retractive.

Referring again to the drawings and Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, in particular, the first preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. A modern suction cleaner is disclosed, the main casin of which comprises a nozzle I which is i-nteriorly connected to the fan chamber 2 housing a suction-creating fan 3 carried by the extended lower end of the motor shaft 4. The motor is unshown but is positioned within the motor casing 8 above, the fan chamber and is of any ordinary well known type. Rotatably positioned within the cleaner nozzle I, and adapted to contact a surface covering undergoing cleaning be-' tween the surface-contacting lips-I and 8 of the nozzle, is the rotary agitator indicated generally by the reference character It. The agitator is seen to comprise an elongated, cylindrical body which is provided upon its surface substantially centrally thereof with a; pulley surface ll of reduced diameter which seats a power-transmitting belt I2 suitably driven by the motor shaft 4. Helically extending movably mounted rigid beater elements i4 form a part of the agitator and cooperate with the axially extending flexible brush elements I! in contacting the surface covering undergoing cleaning and dislodging therefrom the embedded foreign material. The exact manner and operation and adjustment of the rigid beater elements M will be hereinafter fully set forth. The agitator body is rotatably supported within the nozzle I by means of a transverse, longitudinally extending shaft it which is removably seated in any suitable manner on the the end walls of the nozzle.

The entire cleaner is movably supported upon wheels l8 and there is provided a pivoted handle [8 by which the operator may exert a propelling force, the incoming conduit which houses the current-carrying wires passing down the handle and being indicated at 28.

Referring particularly to Figure 7 the relationship of the rotary agitator in the cleaner nozzle relative to the plane of the surface-contacting nozzle lips I and 8 is clearly illustrated. It is seen that, while the axis of rotation and the body of the agitator remains fixed the rigid beater elements H may extend into one of the two orbits relative to .the surface-contacting plane. The means by which this is accomplished will now be described.

Referring now particularly to Figures 2 to 5, inclusive, it is seen that the body 22 of the agitator III is formed with a re-entrant helically extending beater element seat 23 which is fixed to, and forms a part of, the agitator body. Within each seat 23 is positioned the helically extending rigid beater element H which is adapted to be advanced or retracted radially. At each end of the beater element I I there is provided a depending,

radially extending, headed post 25 which passes down through an aperture 26 formed in the bottom of the beater element seat 23. Post 25 is rigid with the beater element It and moves therewith and there is provided upon the underside of each element seat and at each end thereof an elongated, flat leaf spring 28 which is bifurcated to enclose the post 25. Springs 28 at all time urge the posts 25 and so the beater l4 radially inward. Transversely extending pins 30 carried by the opposite ends of the beater element '4 serve as stops which are adapted to abut inner and outer stops 3| and 82 at the ends of the element seat 23 to limit the radial movement of the beater element. Individual beater elements I4 individually operable are disclosed positioned upon each side of the centrally located pulley II of the agitator body and while this arrangement is preferred, it is to be understood that the exact arrangement of the beater elements in the agitator and relative to the brushing element is not of the essence of this invention.

In Figure 6 the electrical diagram of the suction cleaner is illustrated and it is seen that the cleaner motor M is provided with a field windingupon each side of the armature that upon one side being divided. One line conductor 84 is seen to be connected to one extremity of the field winding while the other conductor 28 first passes through a manually operable switch 88 which is adapted to connect it either to conductor II or conductor 88. The latter connects to the opposite extremity of the field from conductor 84 while the former connects to a midpoint. When the manually operable switch 88 is so positioned that current passes through lead 28 then the motor rotates at low speed whereas when it is so positioned that conductor 31 is connected the current passes to a midpoint of the field winding and the motor rotates at high speed. The importance of this two speed rotation of the motor, which also results in the two speed rotation of the agitator II which is connected to the motor by the belt l2, will now be explained.

Each rigidbeater element It is radially displaceable within its seat 23 in the agitator body. When. standing still and also when rotating up to a predetermined speed the inwardly directed forces exerted by the two leaf springs 28 acting upon each rigid beater element is sufi'lcient to hold that, element in its inner radial position, as illustrated in Fi ure 5. When so positioned the element It barely extends beyond the periphery of the agitator body 22. When the motor is rotating at low speed, as when manually operable switch 38 makes contact with lead 28, the agitator speed of rotation is such that the beater element is positioned in its inner radial position.

Upon the motor being rotated at high speed, however, accomplished by the operator moving switch 36 into contact with lead 31, the speed of agitator rotation increases to such an extent that the centrifugal force exerted by the mass of each beater element overcomes the inwardly directed force exerted by springs 28 acting thereagainst and the beater element moves radially outward to its maximum radial extension, as illustrated in Figure 4. Proper selection of springs 28 and heater mass insures that the increase in centrifugal force exerted by the beater at high speed rotation is suflicient to bring about the desired result.

With the machine in operation at high speed the rigid beater element extends to its outermost radial position which is an extension substantially equal to the radial extension of the flexible brush elements. A surface covering undergoing cleaning is then contacted by both brushes and beaters. It the operator desires to operate the machine upon a surface covering upon which he desires to use the brush alone, or it he desires to use the cleaner upon a bare floor, in which event he would probably also desire to lower the cleaner nozzle height, he simply operates the machine at its lower motor speed .and the beater elements assume their inner or inoperative relationship in which they do not contact either the surface covering or the bare floor.

Referring now to Figures 8 to 11, inclusive. the second preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed. In this embodiment the rigid beater element H is radially adjustable within its seat 23 and is supported therein in exactly the same manner as the first embodiment, the flexible springs 28 cooperating with the radially extending posts 25 normally to retain the beater element in its innermost radial position, and the limits of radial adjustment being again determined by the stcps 8| and 32 formed upon the seat. In the present embodiment, however, the strength of the springs 28 i so increased that at any speed of motor'rotation the force which they exert exceeds the centrifugal force of the beater element 14 so that centrifugal force alone cannot move the beater element to-its outer radial extension. To accomplish such adjustment there is provided a manually operable shaft 40 which extends upon the cord of a section of the agitator body 22, being rotatably carried thereby in angular recesses 4i. One end of the shaft 40 is provided with a transversely extending slot 42 which is adapted to receive the end of a tool such as a screw driver to permit the operator to rotate the shaft. The adjustment shaft 40 intersects the bottom of the element seat 23 which is cut away to receive it and is there provided with a cam member 45, the ends of which extend to different radial extensions or distances from the shaft 40.

Cam 45 is adapted to assume one of two an ular positions upon the rotation of its actuating shaft 40. In one angular po ition, that illustrated in Figure 8, the cam has been manually rotated by the shaft 40 until its end of smallest radial extension abuts the inner side of the beater element which is held in contact therewith by the springs 28. When so positioned the beater element has its minimum radial extension. Upon rotation of the shaft 40, as by use of a tool which fits within the groove 42 at the end thereof, the cam is rotated from the position illustrated in Figure 8 to that illustrated in Figure 9 in which the cam abuts seat 23 upon its opposite side and its end of maximum radial extension is moved into contact with the beater element H. In either position of the cam 45 the force exerted by the springs 28 is sufficient to maintain it in that adjustment and it is necessary for the operator intentionally to rotate the shaft 40 in order to change the adjustment.

This second embodiment of the invention functions in the manner of the first embodiment in so far as it i capable of acting upon a surface covering or a bare floor but with this important difference. It is necessary in this embodiment of the invention that the operator manually adjust the radial extension of the beater element to eliminate its contact with the surface undergoing cleaning.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner having a casing, a rotary agitator including: a rotary body mounted on said casing, anagitating element carried by said body and movable radially thereon relative to the axis of rotation between two fixed positions in each of which it is out of contact with said casingandcomprising an inner inoperative position in which said element does not contact a surface covering undergoing cleaning and an outer operative position in which said element is adapted to contact a surfac covering undergoing cleaning. means to retain said element in said inoperative position at one speed of rotation. and speed-operated means to move said element to said operative position at another speed of rotation; and operator-controlled means to rotate said agitator at either of said speeds at the operators election.

2. In a suction cleaner having a casing, a rotary agitator including: a rotary body mounted on said casing, a rigid beater element carried by said body for radial movement thereon, means on said body limiting the radial movement of said element to an inner radial position in which tor at speeds above and below said predetermined speed at the operators election.

3. In a suction cleaner having a casing, an agitator including: a body rotatably mounted on said casing, a rigid beater element carried by said body for radial movement; cooperative means on said body and element to limit the.

radial movement of said element to an inner radial position in which said element is inoperative and out of contact with a surface covering undergoing cleaning and to an outer radial position in which said element is operative and adapted to contact a surface covering undergoing cleaning, spring means carried by .said body urging said element to its minimum radial extension with a force less than the centrifugal force acting on said element at a predetermined speed of rotation; means to rotate said agitator body at a speed below and at aspeed above said predeterminedspeed, and operator-controlled means to control tioned means.

4. In a suction cleaner,

dially of the axis of rotation between limiting positions in one of which said element is adapted to contact a surface covering contacted by said lips and in the other of which it is adapted. to rotate without contact with said surface covering, speed-controlled means to position said element in each of said positions and at different speeds of agitator rotation; and selectively controlled means to rotate said agitator at said different speeds.

5. The construction recited in the preceding claim characterized in that said speed controlled means to position said element includes a resilient spring so constructed and arranged as to exert a force to hold said element in said position in which it does not contact a surface covering and against centrifugal force acting thereon at a slow speed of agitator rotation, the force of said spring beinglimited as to be overcome by said centrifugal force at a high speed of agitator rotation.

6. A rotary agitator for a suction cleanerineluding a rotatable body, a brush element carried 1 by said body and extended to an operative radial position from the axis of body rotation and which is fixed during agitator rotation, a rigid beater element movably mounted on said body for movement between a fixed outer radial position which is substantially equal to the operative radial selectively said last-mena nozzle having surface-contacting lips, a rotary agitator mounted in said nozzle including: an agitating element,' means mounting said element for movement ra- 

